Container



Aug. 17, 1937. J. HEKMAN 2,090,200

CONTAINER Filed March 24, 1936 2 Sheer,s-Shen=.^l'I 1 N will.

Aug. 17, 1937.

2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed March 24, 1936 Patented Aug. 17, 1937 PATENTOFFICE CONTAINER John Hekman, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to ChicagoCarton Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois ApplicationMarch 24,

10 Claims.

My invention relates generally to containers and particularly tocontainers of the type which are made of paper board and are used forpackaging and displaying goods which are sold in small lots, as by thepound.

Large numbers of containers of this type are employed in the marketingof crackers or cookies or the like, and for this use it is verydesirable that the level of the crackers or cookies or' other productscontained within the container shall not drop an unreasonable distancebelow the top of the container as the goods are sold. The reasons forthis requirement are twofold: If the level of the goods drop too farfrom the top, it is difficult to remove the goods from the container andin addition, it is difficult if not practically impossible, to effect asatisfactory display of such goods as remain in the container. Hence,the principal object of the present invention is to provide a containerof the above described type which shall include means for maintainingthe goods contained therein at a reasonably high level at all timesduring the use thereof., despite normal withdrawals.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a container of this typewhich may be cheaply and I conveniently manufactured from a single,suitably cut, flat sheet of paper board or the like, and to provide acontainer of the above described type which shall be convenient to useand substantially fool-proof in its operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent byreference to the following description of certain preferred embodiments3 thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein-Fig. l is a side elevational view, partially broken away and in section,of a container embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines 3-3and 4 4 of Fig. 2, the section of Fig. 4 being also indicated by theline 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the container illustrated in Figs. 1through 4.

Fig. 6 is a developed view of the cut sheet of material which is foldedto form the container illustrated in Figs. 1 through 4.

Fig. 7 is a developed view of the false bottom used in conjunction withthe container illustrated in Figs. 1 through 5. l 55 Fig. 8 is afragmentary, developed view of a' 1936, Serial No. 70,562

(Cl. 20G-44) modification of the container illustrated in the otherfigures in the drawings.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, perspective View, illustrating a modified formof false bottom for use with the container of my invention.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing certain of thefeatures of a modified form of container.

As shown in the drawings, the container comprises a rectangular box-likebody structure having a permanently closed bottom and an open top, andit is preferably formed from a single, suitably cut sheet of stiff paperboard or similar material having the general outline illustrated in Fig.6. This sheet includes four aligned, substantially rectangular portions.2, the outlines of which are defined by suitable fold or score linesindicated at 3, and these portions 2 are adapted to be folded into atubular shape to provide side walls for the container. A suitable,vertically extending fiap 4 is provided for permitting the engagingvertical edges of the two adjacent side portions of the sheet to befastened together, as by the metallic staples indicated at 5.

'Ihe bottom of the container is formed' by bending in four, downwardlyextending flaps 6, one of which is formed integrally with each of theside wall portions 2. Two of these flaps 6 are provided with secondaryflaps 'I formed therein. The surface of each of the other two flaps isuncut, except for the senil-circular openings 8, the purpose of whichwill be subsequently set forth, and the dimensions of the two flaps aresuch that the outer edges 9 thereof abut against each other in thecompleted container. During the assembly of the container, the fiaps 6which are provided with the secondary flaps I are rst bent into theposition shown in Figs. l, 2, and 5. Next, the uncut flaps 6 are bent sothat the outer edges 9 thereof are in abutting engagement, as islikewise shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5. All four of the fiaps are thenstitched together by suitable means, such as metallic staples, atsuitable points such as indicated at I0, and the two bottom aps arelikewise stitched to each other adjacent their meeting edges as at Il.It will be seen that the uncut or lowermost flaps 6 provide acontinuous, permanent bottom for the container which is reinforcedaround the edges thereof by the side portion of the inner flaps 6 whichhave the secondary flaps formed therein.

During the use of the container, a false bottom I2 which is formed of asingle, rectangular sheet of stiff suitable paper board or the like,having the outline shown in Fig. 7, is disposed within the containeradjacent the permanent bottom formed by the flaps t. The central portionof the false bottom I2 is raised a slight distance from the permanentbottom by two suitable flaps or flanges i I3, integral therewith. Thesecondary flaps 1 normally lie substantially horizontal within the spacebetween the false bottom and the permanent bottom (the secondary aps areshown in a slightly raised position in Fig. 1 in order to clarify thedrawings) and are bendable upwardly to raise the false bottom I2 fromthe positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to the position shown in Figs. 3,4, and 5. A suitable crease or score line isv provided -in the innermostflaps 8 as shown in Fig. 6, to facilitate said upward bending of thevsecondary ilaps 1.

as is shown in Fig. 5. In order that the secondary ilaps'1 may be movedfrom the normal position thereof to raise and operatively support thefalse bottom in the positions shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the lowermostflaps are provided with suitable cut-out portions B, as mentioned above,which form ngerholes in the completed container. These holes makepossiblethe convenient actuation of the secondary fiaps 1 from outsidethe container.

In the container illustrated in the drawings, the secondary iiaps 1 forraising and supporting the false bottom are of equal length, and henceserve to support the false bottom I2 when raised in a planesubstantially parallel to, but elevated a predetermined distance from,the initial lower position of the false bottom. It is, of course, withinthe province of my invention that these secondary supporting ilaps maybe made of differing lengths should it be desirable for any reason toraise the false bottom unevenly.

Each of the side portions 2 1s also provided with to a stable supportingposition, as is shown in Figs. 3 and 5, by the weight of the contents ofthe container. In certain applications, it may be desirable, however, toprovide additional means for latching or otherwise retaining these flaps1,

in a raised position. One means for accomplishing this may comprisesuitable flap detents I6 pressed out of the false bottom itself, as isshown in Fig. 9. Also, for certain applications it may be desirable thatthe false bottom I2 be raised in a plurality of steps. This may beconveniently accomplished by providing a plurality of secondary flaps i1and I 8 of diierent lengths in place of the two single flaps 1, asillustrated in Figs. 8 and 10. In order to better support the falsebottom, it is desirable that each cooperating pair of these secondaryflaps I1 and i8 shall be disposed on opposite sides of the center lineof the bottom of the container, this arrangement making for a structureof maximum strength and.

rigidity. If desired, the unequal length flaps I1 and I8 may be used forraising and supporting the false bottom in a plane which is inclined tothe plane of the permanent bottom.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided an improvedcontainer for loose goods 75 or the like, which includes means formaintaining The top of the container is ordinarily closed by a removableglass cover I4,

the level of the goods contained therein within a short distance of thetop of the container, even after substantial quantities of the goodshave been removed from the container. This arrangement greatlyfacilitates the use of containers of this type, and also makes possiblea much more advantageous display of the goods which are containedtherein. In addition, I have disclosed how this improved container maybe conveniently and inexpensively manufactured from at, sheet paperboard or the like.

My improved container is extremely simple in design; the means forraising the false bottom is substantially fool-prooi in operation andmay be readily actuated from` without the container. l have alsodisclosed' means whereby the raising of the false bottom of thecontainer during use may be effected in a plurality of steps, and meanswhereby the secondary iiaps which serve to raise the false bottom may belatched into place so as to assure the maintaining of the false bottomin the raised position during use.

Various modications may be made in the described structures withoutdeparting from the principles of my invention, and for this reason, itismy desire that the accompanying claims shall be accorded the broadestreasonable construction consistent with thestate of the art.

I claim the following as my invention:

l. A container.I of the class described comprisl ing/ side walls joinedto form a tubular body, a

closureI for the lower end of said body, a bottom vertically adjustablydisposed within said body. and ilap means extending inwardly from thesides of said body above said closure and adapted to be bent upwardly toengage and move said bottom upwardly within said body.

2. A contfiner of the class described comprising side walls joined toform a tubular body, a closure for." the lower end of said body, abottom vertically"adjustably disposed within said body, and flap meansextending inwardly from the sides of said body above said closure andadapted to be bent upwardly to engage and move said bottom upwardlywithin said body, said closure being provided with access openings forfacilitating manual blending of the flaps.

3. A container of the class described comprising side walls joined toform a tubular body, a

closure for the lower end of said body, a bottom,

vertically adjustably disposed within said body. and ap means extendinginwardly from the sides of said body above said closure and adapted tobe bent upwardly to engage and move said bottom upwardly within saidbody, said flaps being bendable to an overcenter position for supportingthe bottom in an upwardly adjusted position and wherein the bottom isoperative to resist the restoration of said flaps to the initial unbentposi- \tion thereof.

4. In a container of the class described, the combination of side wallsforming a tubular body of polygonal cross section, bottom-forming flapsextending from the lower ends of said side walls. at least some of saidflaps being bent inwardly and fastened together to form a permanentbottom for said container, and a false bottom normally positioned withinsaid container adjacent said permanent bottom, some of said flaps havingsecondary ap portions formed therein for raising and operativelysupporting said false bottom at a substantially higher position than thesaid normal position thereof.

5. In a container of the class described. the

combination of side walls forming a tubular body of substantiallyrectangular cross-section, bottom-forming flaps extending from the lowerends of said side walls, at least some of said flaps being bent inwardlyand fastened together to form a permanent, fiat bottom for saidcontainer, and a iiat, false bottom, substantially rectangular inoutline, which is normally positioned within said container adjacent andsubstantially parallel to said permanent bottom, at least some of saidflaps having secondary flap portions formed therein for raising andoperatively supporting said false bottom in a plane substantiallyparallel to said permanent bottom but removed a considerable distancetherefrom.

6. In a container of the class described, the combination of side wallsforming a tubular body of substantially rectangular cross-section,bottom-forming flaps extending from the lower ends of said side walls,said iiaps being bent inwardly and fastened together to form apermanent, flat bottom for said container and at least some of said apsincluding secondary flap portions, and a false bottom which issubstantially rectangular in outline and which is normally disposedwithin said container adjacent said permanent bottom, said secondaryflap portions being normally positioned intermediate said permanentbottom and said false bottom, and said permanent bottom having ngerholes formed therein, whereby said secondary flaps m-ay be bentoutwardly to raise and operatively support said false bottom somedistance from the normal position thereof.

7. In a container of the fclass described, the combination of side wallsforming a tubul-ar body of substantially rectangular cross section,bottomforming flaps extending from the lower ends of said side walls, atleast some of said iiaps being bent inwardly and fastened together toform a permanent, substantially flat bottom for said container and afalse bottom, adjacent and substantially parallel to said permanentbottom, which comprises a substantially at sheet of suitable materialhaving a plurality of dependent side portions which norm-ally supportsaid false bottom adjacent said permanent bottom, at least some of saidaps having secondary flap portions formed therein for raising andoperatively supporting said false bottom in a plane substantiallyparallel to said permanent bottom but removed a considerable distancetherefrom, said secondary flaps being actuable to raise and support saidfalse bottom from Without said container.

8. In a container of the class described, the combination of side wallsforming a tubular body of generally rectangular cross section,bottomforming flaps extending from the lower ends of said side walls, atleast some of said aps being bent inwardly and fastened together to forma permanent bottom for said container, and a false bottom comprising agenerally rectangular, substantially fiat sheet of suitable materialhaving dependent side portions which normally support said false bottomwithin said container in a plane generally parallel to, but spaced ashort distance from, said permanent bottom, at least some of said flapshaving secondary flap portions formed therein, which secondary flapportions are normally disposed in the space between said permanentbottom and said false bottom and are bendable outwardly to raise andoperatively support said false bottom in a plane substantially parallelto the normal plane thereof but removed a considerable distancetherefrom, said secondary iiaps being actuable to raise and support saidfalse bottom through finger holes formed in said permanent bottom.

9. In a container of the class described, the combination of side wallsforming a tubular body of generally rectangular cross-section,bottomforming flaps extending from the lower ends of said side walls, atleast some of said flaps being bent inwardly and fastened together toform a permanent bottom for said container, and a false bottomcomprising a generally rectangular, substantially flat sheet of suitablematerial having depending side portions which normally support saidfalse bottom within said container in a plane generally parallel to,Ibut spaced a short distance from said permanent bottom, and meanscomprising bendable secondary iiaps formed from opposed bottom-formingiiaps of different lengths which are disposed intermediate saidpermanent bottom and said false bottom for raising and selectivelysupporting said false bottom at different heights, each of which is somedistance above the normal position thereof, said permanent bottom havingnger holes formed therein for permitting the operation of said flapsfrom without said container.

10. In a container of the class described, side Walls, a permanentbottom cooperatively aiilxed to said side walls and having finger holesformed therein, a false bottom normally disposed within said containeradjacent said permanent bottom, means comprising bendable flaps, whichare disposed intermediate said permanent bottom and said false bottomand which are bendable through said finger holes, for raising andoperatively supporting said false bottom at a position some distanceabove the normal position thereof, and detents pressed out of'said falsebottom for automatically latching said flaps in position when they arebent to raise and support said f-alse bottom.

JOHN HEKMAN.

